San Jose law enforcement officials arrested two men on yesterday, and seized a massive amount of illegal fireworks in connection with the disastrous fire that burned down an entire storage facility earlier this month. According to a San Jose Police Department press release, suspects Anthony Dasilva, 45, and Nathaniel Valassis, 25, both of San Jose, were caught after a comprehensive investigation led by the San Jose Police Department (SJPD) and San Jose Fire Department (SJFD) arson investigators.
The incident occurred on June 14, 2023, when a public storage facility on 88 Blossom Hill Road in San Jose was completely engulfed in flames due to multiple illegal fireworks igniting in a storage unit, making it impossible for the contents stored inside to be salvaged, as reported by SJPD. The inferno was an intense and hazardous scene, as witnesses described seeing explosive visuals resembling something out of a "Call Of Duty" video game and hearing "popping" sounds from the three-alarm fire
A heart-wrenching story emerged from the disastrous fire, as Bryce Grenon, his 8-year-old daughter, and his girlfriend, who were storing all of their possessions at the Public Storage before moving to Sacramento, lost everything, another KRON4 article mentioned. Grenon had to inform his young daughter that all of her belongings, including her toys, were destroyed just a day before her birthday party, describing it as "the hardest day of my life."
During the investigation that followed, the authorities discovered an alarming stockpile of illegal fireworks - nearly 40,000 pounds in total. The police executed search warrants on several residences and storage units, and as a result, seized an astonishing 38,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, over 13 ounces of methamphetamine for sale, over 200 grams of cocaine for sale, marijuana, approximately $4,800 in cash, and one semi-automatic firearm.
With multiple divisions and outside agencies assisting in the investigation, including the SJPD Bomb Unit, the SJPD Metro Unit, the SJPD Covert Response Unit, the San Jose Fire Department, Cal Fire, and the Department of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the suspects now face multiple offenses and have been booked into Santa Clara County Jail.
This massive seizure highlights the dangers of illegal fireworks and the potential disastrous consequences of their improper storage and use. In the aftermath of the catastrophic fire and arrests made in this case, it is crucial for the public to pay attention to the hazards associated with fireworks, especially as the Fourth of July celebrations approach.
Anyone with information about this fireworks and arson investigation is urged to contact Detective Tong or Detective Weidner at the San Jose Police Assaults Unit by emailing [email protected], [email protected], or by calling 408-277-4161.
